Chapter 16: The Hidden Traitor

EMILIA POV

The gunshot echoed across the battlefield.

Marco staggered forward, one hand clutching his bleeding shoulder.

For a second, the entire battlefield froze.

"Marco!" I screamed.

Ghost caught him before he collapsed.

"Stay with me!"

Marco gritted his teeth.

"I'm fine... get the traitor!"

Standing near the clubhouse entrance was Trevor Hayes.

One of the Iron Serpents' oldest road captains.

A man who had earned everyone's trust over nearly twenty years.

His pistol was still smoking.

Victor Kane smiled from across the battlefield.

"Meet my real informant," he announced loudly.

"Ryan was only a distraction."

Trevor laughed.

"Sorry, boys."

"Business is business."

Ghost slowly stood.

His face showed no emotion.

That frightened me more than anger ever could.

"You sold out Vincent."

"You sold out Ryan."

"And now Marco."

Trevor shrugged.

"Victor offered me something your club never could."

"Power."

"Money."

"Respect."

"You already had respect," Ghost replied quietly.

"Not enough."

Without another word, Trevor fired again.

Ghost dove sideways.

The bullet missed him by inches.

The battlefield erupted once more.

Ghost charged directly toward Trevor.

The two men collided violently.

Trevor was larger, but Ghost was faster.

They exchanged brutal punches before Ghost slammed him against a motorcycle.

"Where is Victor taking Emilia?" Ghost demanded.

Trevor laughed through broken teeth.

"Too late."

"She's already his."

Ghost frowned.

"What?"

Before anyone understood what Trevor meant, smoke grenades exploded throughout the compound.

Thick black smoke swallowed the battlefield.

"Gas!" someone shouted.

"Cover your faces!"

I could barely see my own hands.

People were coughing everywhere.

Gunfire echoed blindly through the smoke.

"Emilia!" Ghost yelled.

"Stay where you are!"

"Ghost!" I shouted back.

Suddenly, two strong arms wrapped around me from behind.

A cloth covered my mouth.

I fought desperately.

Kicked.

Bit.

Scratched.

But another pair of hands grabbed my wrists.

"We've got her!"

My heart stopped.

"Ghost!"

My scream disappeared beneath the sound of exploding vehicles.

The kidnappers dragged me toward one of the waiting SUVs.

I managed to elbow one of them in the face.

"Little hellcat!" he cursed.

Before he could hit me, another voice interrupted.

"Careful."

"She's worth more alive."

Victor Kane.

He stood beside the SUV, completely untouched by the battle.

"Bring her."

I stared at him with hatred.

"You'll never win."

Victor smiled.

"I've already won."

"Look behind you."

I turned.

The clubhouse burned.

Several Serpents lay wounded.

Ghost was still fighting through the smoke, desperately searching for me.

"Ghost!" I screamed.

He heard me.

Our eyes met across the battlefield.

"EMILIA!"

He started running.

Victor calmly raised his pistol.

Three Black Wolves stepped into Ghost's path.

Gunfire forced him back.

"No!" Ghost roared.

I had never heard that kind of pain in someone's voice.

Victor opened the SUV door.

"Time to go home, niece."

"You're not my family."

"Blood says otherwise."

"Blood doesn't make family."

"Vincent taught me that."

For the first time, Victor's smile disappeared.

"You'll change your mind."

"Eventually."

The SUV doors slammed shut.

Within seconds, the convoy sped away into the desert.

Back at the clubhouse...

Ghost finally broke through the smoke.

The SUV was already disappearing over the ridge.

"NO!"

He fired every remaining round after the retreating vehicles.

None of them reached their target.

Marco walked toward him, his injured shoulder heavily bandaged.

"Ghost..."

"She trusted me."

"And I failed her."

"No," Marco replied firmly.

"This isn't over."

"Victor wanted Emilia alive."

"Which means she'll stay alive."

"For now."

Ghost looked toward the horizon.

His gray eyes burned with determination.

"I'm bringing her home."

"Even if I have to burn every Black Wolf stronghold to the ground."

Marco placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Then we ride together."

"Every last Iron Serpent."

As the surviving members gathered around them, Ghost made a silent promise.

No matter how many enemies stood in his way...

He would rescue Emilia.

Or die trying.